No Dem front-runner in sight to out Snyder

By Tim Skubick

They are dropping like flies. There are more persons dropping out than getting into the Democratic race for governor which doesn’t say much for the State Democratic Party as it launches it “Let’s Send-Snyder-Back-to-Ann Arbor” campaign.

Trite and overworked it still applies: You can’t beat somebody with nobody and right now the Democrats have nobody, no one, not a soul, not even a remote contender to run.

All the would-be contenders want nothing to do with the job.

Democratic Congressman Dan Kildee from Genesee County would be a bang-up candidate. He got real serious about it two years ago; even got in his car and meandered around the state making the right noises about wanting to do this. He had a moderate-like flavor to his beliefs and was just beginning to get traction. Then out of nowhere while he was looking good on paper, labor decided they didn’t much like his paper so he was out quicker than you could say Virg Benero who did get the nomination such as it was.

Elected to Congress to replace his relative and former Congressman Dale Kildee, Dan says he’s been approached about being governor again.

“A few people” have discussed it, he reveals.

And?

“I’m not running. Under no circumstances would I run. My district has got me right now,” as he slams shut the door that he doesn’t even want to open a crack.

Sounds like a Sherman-statement, doesn’t it i.e. “If nominated I will not run and if elected I will not serve.”

Mr. Kildee agrees.

Next you will likely hear from former Congressman Mark Schauer. Word is, he won’t run either although he’s flattered by those urging him to do so. Fact is, he’s happy where he is doing work with construction labor unions and as pointed out here weeks ago, there is no fire in his belly to get him out of the “fun” job he has now.

Attorney Mark Bernstein, who will likely run for that office some day, is not ready to venture out just yet.

Now all you Republicans are out there going, of course they can’t find anybody to run because Gov. Snyder is unbeatable.

“Snyder’s made a lot of people mad,” confides one Democratic insider who does not agree with that GOP analysis. But he concedes he doesn’t know who will run.

Mr. Kildee boldly announces, “We’ll find a great candidate.”

Can he name names?

Nope.

Neither can Sen. Gretchen Whitmer who started the drop-out-mania weeks ago.

What about the new Democratic Party Chair Lon Johnson?

He’s facing an undaunting task of assembling a ticket with a bench that is weaker than the Red Wing’s power play.

He needs to recruit not only a candidate for governor in 2014, but Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Supreme Court contenders along with taking back control of the Michigan House and Senate.

At some point he’ll have to narrow his choice. There is the greatest opportunity to win? He can’t possibly win all those races in an off-year election and while he would never admit it, the D’s could decide to concede the governor’s race.

The Snyder gang is hoping that is the case.

But if that does not happen, the incumbent is hoping the economy is so solid going into 2014 that the Democratic candidate for governor who has not surfaced yet, will never surface. At the rate the D’s are going, it could happen.